Coaxial line switch apparatus



Oct. 25, 1960 c. wfcoNcr-:LMAN 2,958,052

COAXIAL LINE SWITCH APPARATUS Filed Dec. 7, 1956 TIEN' INVENTOR Cdr! M4Conce/man BY 1%.@ ATTORNEY United States Patent Q.

coAxIAL LINE SWITCH APPARATUS Carl W. Concelman, Danbury, Conn.,assiguor to Amphenol-Borg Electronics Corporation, Broadview, Ill., acorporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 7, 1956, ser. No. 627,049

7 claims. (ci. ssa- 7) This invention relates to electrical switchrelays, and more particularly, to switch relays adapted to connectindependently and selectively a rst high frequency coaxial transmissionline to a plurality of high frequency coaxial transmission lines.

The improvements herein are concerned with electrical switches of thetype disclosed in the oo-pending application Serial No. 543,785,entitled Electrical Switch, and` now U.S. Patent 2,859,311, and, inparticular, the inventions of the instant application are directed toprovide improved cross-talk switch characteristics over wide bandprovide a coaxial transmission line relay switch in which positiveconductive connections are realized by movable switching arms adapted toconnect yor isolate selectively and individually any one of a number ofsuch coaxial lines in respect to a particular one of such lines.

- It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide acoaxial transmission line relay switch that is economical to fabricateand simple to use for individually and selectively connecting andisolating any one of a number of such coaxial lines in respect to aparticular one of such lines and adapted to provide improved crosstalk,broad band operation.

It is still a furtherlobject of the instant invention to provide acoaxial line relay switch that provides a double makev and break of thecontacting members with a resultant increase in power handling abilityas compared with prior artrelay switches that provide only a singlefrequency operation. As used herein, cross-talk means' A.

picking up a signal in the inactive transmission line circuit which maybe open, grounded or resistor terminated as a result of a relativelyimperfect isolation ofsuch inactive line from the active circuit. p

It is, therefore, the main object of the instant invention to provideelectrical switch relay apparatus providing means for interconnectingindividually and selectively a first coaxial transmission line to anyone of a plurality of coaxial transmission lines and affording improved,broad band operation with better cross-talk characteristics thanlheretofore achieved.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide coaxialtransmission line relay switch apparatus in which a first of suchtransmission lines may be individually and selectively connected to anyone of a number of such lines and wherein the inactive transmissionlines of the plurality are substantially completely shielded from the.remainder of the relay circuit and under substantially perfectelectrical isolating conditions.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide coaxialtransmission line relay switch apparatus in which a rst of suchtransmission lines may be individually and selectively connected to aplurality of such lines by rotatable `switching arms suspended withinthe relay chamber; by orienting the larms aslant certain of saidplurality of `lines are electrically, individually and selectivelyshielded from the remainder of the relay circuit. The apparatuscontemplates the further advantage in that the arms may be actuated byindependent actuators to provide electrical connection or disconnectionof any one of the plurality of lines in respect to the rst lineregardless of the disposition of the remainder of said plurality oflines.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide coaxialtransmission line relay switch yapparatus in which a iirst of suchtransmission lines may be individually and selectively connected to aplurality of such lines by movable switching arms, suspended in therelay chamber, which arms are translated through planes substantiallyparallel to certain of the chamber walls to etfect electrical connectionand isolation. The apparatus contemplates a further advantage in thatthe arms may be activated by It is still a further object ofvtheuin'stant invention to 'A make and break of contact members.

.'It Vvis still a further object of the instant invention to provide acoaxial line relay switch wherein substantially all of the force of theactuating solenoid or other actuating mechanism is applied directly tothe contacting members-with a resultant increase in contact pressure andreliability, which force is not used to deect elastic deilectablemembers through a nominal distance before actual electrical contact ismade as in the prior art structure. Other objects andadvantages willbecome -apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, in section and taken along line 1--1 ofFig. 2, of a switch incorporating certain of the vimprovements lof theinvention;

l Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section and taken along line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section and taken along line 3--3of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 4 is ,an elevational view, in section, of a switch employingcertain modifications and incorporating certain of the improvements lofthe invention.

Referring now to the figures, an electrical switch 10 is constructed inaccordance with the principles of the instant invention. Switch 10 has alongitudinally extending chamber 11 defined in part by upper and lowerconductingwalls 12, 13 in the interior of a metallic iswitch supportmember 14. In many respects, chamber support 14 is similar to thesupport shown in the embodiments of my co-pending application. Chamber11 is completed by plane conductive side surfaces 15, 16. Switch 10 maybe constructed of any suitable material, such as brass which then may besilver plated. In crosssection, chamber 11 substantially uniform andsquare. cross-section provides mechanical convenience in manufacture.

Three coaxial line connectors are made up of outer conductors 17, 18, 19conductively yconnected at the inner ends thereof to a chamber wall 16and respective inner conductors Z0, 21, 22. The connectors provideindividual connection to coaxial transmission lines (not shown). For thepurpose of description, the end connectors will be designated as inputconnectors and the center connector as the output connector. The pair ofinput connectors communicate with the cavity at the op- .posite ends ofchamber 11. Inner conductors 20, 21, 22 are suspended within respectiveouter conductors 17, 18,.,19 by suitable dielectric material 23. Theterminating inner ends of inner conductors 20, 21, 22 extend 'intochamber 11 and are provided with opposed facesxthat may be rounded oriiat. The connectors are disposed along spaced apart relative parallelaxes extending normal to the longitudinal axis of chamber 11. The outputconnector is disposed approximately midway between the input connectors.

arms 24, 25, preferably of resilient material, such as beryllium copperare suspended in chamber 11 from turnable dielectric members, such asshafts 26, 27. Shafts 26, 27 extend through openings in `one ofthe sidewalls 15' of chamber support 14. Shafts 26,27 are disposed substantiallymidway between adjacentvconnectors and extend along respective axessubstantially parallel to the axes of such connectors. Tworotatableactuators 28, 29, or one suitable actuator, may be mounted bybolts 31 on the external side of a wall of switch support 14, such aswall 15', to impart rotatable action selectively and independently torespective shafts 26, 27 and thereby turning the arms 24, 25 carriedthereon. Wall 15' is held to the main part of support 14 by threadedbolts 32. Arms 24, 25 are shaped and disposed in charnber 11 to connectconductively either one of input inner conductors 20, 22 selectively andindividually to output inner conductor 21. Conductive connection iseffected at contact points 30, 31 at the opposite ends of arms 24, 25.In particular, contact points 30 of arm 24 are adapted to connect withlower and upper at terminating ends of inner conductors 20, 21,respectively. Arm 25 is provided with similar contact points 31 adaptedto conductively connect lower and upper at terminating ends of innerconductors 21, 22, respectively. Arms 24, 25 are relatively thin incross-section. In width, the horizontal dimension in Fig. 3, arms 24, 25are proportioned and disposed with respect to the chamber walls toprovide an impedance match with the connectors and associated lines.Therefore, it will be understood that the parameters of chamber 11 andarms 24, 25 are proportioned to provide an approximate impedance matchwith the connectors and associated transmission lines. In the plane ofchamber surface 15, the inner diameter of outer conductors 17, 18, 19 ispreferably approximately equal to the vertical cross-sectional dimensionof chamber 11 to minimize impedance mismatch. Since the inner diameterof the outer conductors as shown in Fig. 3 is enlarged at 147, the innerconductors thereof are also enlarged at 148 to provide a smoothimpedance transition. In addition, arms 24, 25 provide circuit isolationas will be described hereinafter.

Upon imparting counterclockwise rotation to arm 24, contact points 30are brought into conductive contact with upper and lower chamber walls12, 13 thereby effectively isolating the transmission line connected toinput connector 17, 20 from the other transmission lines. When arm 24 isaslant, it will be noticed that connector 17, 20 is substantiallycompletely electrically shielded from the remainder of the switchcircuit. Clockwise rotation of arm 24 brings about conductive contact ofconductor 20 to conductor 21 and thus interconnects the transmissionlines communicating therewith. Similarly, rotation to `arm 25 to itsaslant position isolates the transmission line connected to connector19, 22 and the circuit thereof from the remainder of the switch circuit.In like manner, clockwise orientation of arm 25 brings about connectionbetween conductor 21 and conductor 22 and thus interconnectstransmission lines communicating therewith.

It will be understood that activating means mounted to switch support 14for turning arms 24, 25 may include a solenoid servo or other rotatabledrive mechanisms. By disposing arms 24, 25 so that the opposed contactpoints thereof bear against the lower terminating face of one innerconductor and the upper terminating face of the other inner conductor atthe end of clockwise travel, and bear against the opposed chamber walls12, 13 at the end of travel in the opposite direction, positiveconductive connections are provided for both arm positions even thougharms 24, 25 are made of resilient material. This arrangement providesdecidedly improved electrical contacts for relay switching. In addition,the inductive loop developed by prior art lapparatus is sub- 4stantially eliminated when `arms 24, 25 are aslant because both contactpoints thereof are grounded and the inner conductor of the isolatedconnector is substantially electrically shielded from the activecircuit.

The instant embodiment provides further combined mechanical andelectrical advantages not conveniently feasible with end supporteddeilectable arms. For the end supported deectable arm structure asillustrated in the aforesaid patent, the servo or actuating means mustfurnish sufcient force to deflect the arms and moreover additional forceto effect positive electrical contact with the inner connector. Therot-atable arm arrangement Yof the instant invention does not require adeilectable force. Moreover, the force to rotate same is relativelysmall because arms 24, 25 are low mass and freely moving pivotalmembers. Hence, a smaller seiyo or solenoid coil may be used with theembodiments of the instant invention for the purpose of developingeffective positive electrical contacts in contrast to prior artstructures.

Moreover, rotating switch members such as arms 24, 25 are adaptable forhigh speed lobe switches where the small low mass freely moving `arms24, 25 can be operated by a reciprocating external mechanism atoperating speeds of 1,000 to 2,000 operations per minute. In addition,each arm may be operated by independent actuating means therebyimparting better control to relay switch Operation. Consequently, switch10 offers greater switching versatility. For example, arms 24, 25 may beoperated to alternately connect and isolate an input line in respect toan output line. On the other hand, all three transmission lines may beconductively connected together or all disengaged. In addition, eitherof the input connectors may be connected or disconnected from the outputconnector as determined by its respective actuating means regardless ofthe position of the other input connector of the pair. The double makeand break provided by contact points 30, 31, at both ends of arms 24, 25allow switch 10 to handle greater power than a switch employing priorart arms arranged with a single contact point. When conductivelydisengaged from the inner conductors, the prior art arm structureprovides a single gap between its contact point and the juxtaposed innerconductor whereas the double gap of the instant embodiment increases thelevel of arcing or breakdown voltage the structure is capable ofwithstanding. Hence the power handling capacity of switch 10 isincreased.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4, rotatable switching action as hereinbeforedescribed is replaced by lateral movement of longitudinally extendingswitching arms suspended in the chamber of a switch 40. Switching actionis effected by two relatively thin independently operating resilientconducting arms 41, 42. Switch 40 includes a longitudinal chamber 43defined in part by internal upper and lower conducting walls 44 in aswitch support member 45. Side walls 46, only one shown, cooperate withupper and lower walls 44 to complete chamber 43. Arms 41, 42 aresuspended to move -through planes substantially parallel to upper andlower walls 44. Arms 41, 42 are shaped and disposed to connect anddisconnect selectively and independently individual ones of a pair ofcoaxial transmission line connectors made up of inner conductors 47, 48supported by dielectric material 49 within respective outer conductors50, 51 to a coaxial line connector made up of inner conductor 52supported by dielectric 49 in outer conductor 53. The output connectoris disposed approximately midway between the pair of input connectors,the latter being at the opposite ends of chamber 43. The threeconnectors extend along spaced apart substantially parallel longitudinalaxes. The outer conductors, at the inner ends thereof, are conductivelyconnected to the chamber walls. The inner ends of conductors 47 48, 52terminate within chamber 43.

Chamberl 43 in cross-section lis substantially uniform asesoria andsquare. n the plane of side wall 46 to which the connectors are joined,the inner diameter of outer conductors 50, 51, 53 is approximately equalto the vertical cross-sectional dimension of chamber 43 to minimizeimpedance mismatch. It will be understood that the parameters of chamber43 and arms 41, 42 are proportioned to provide an approximate impedancematch With the connectors and associated transmission lines. The innerterminating ends of the inner conductors 47, 48, 52 are provided withopposed faces disposed within chamber 43 to permit good electricalcontact with contact points 54, 55 at the opposite ends of arms 41, 42.

Arms 41, 42 are suspended within chamber 43 by pairs of cylindrical pinmembers 56, 57 of suitable dielectric material projecting throughrespective sets of openings in either one of chamber walls 44. Arm 41 isshaped and adapted to contact conductively the upper ilat faces of theterminating ends of inner conductors 47, 52; whereas arm 42 is shapedand disposed to connect conductively to the lower liat faces of innerconductors 48, 52. Actuating means 58 may be suspended from the exteriorof support 4S for Iimparting inward and outward motion to pins 56, 57 asillustrated by the arrows. Such motion produces conductiveinterconnection between either one of the input conductors 47, 48 tooutput conductor 52 at the end of travel of arms 56, 57 toward thecorrelated inner conductors. Travel in the opposite direction groundsarms 41, 42 respectively to the upper and lower chamber walls 44 andthus isolates the connector of the unconnected inner conductor from theremainder of the circuit. Both contact points 54, 5S of each arm arebrought in conductive contact with chamber walls 44 when the armsthereof are in the grounding position to render correlated inputconnectors and the associated transmission lines inactive. Cross-talkotherwise induced by inductive loops, as noted in prior art apparatus,is thus minimized. In addition, the parameters of chamber 43 may beselected to define in the region of the grounded arm a wave guideoperating below cut-olf for the frequency band of operation whichsuppresses cross-talk signals. For example, in Fig. 4, the right-handside of chamber 43 by reason of its parameters acts as a waveguide belowcut-olf.

In width, arms 41, 42 are less than the wide dimension of chamber 43 topermit up and down translation. In Fig. 4, arm 41 is shown in a positioneffecting electrical connection between conductor 47 and conductor 52,whereas arm 42 is shown in a position isolating the right hand inputconnector from the remainder of the relay circuit. The shape anddisposition of arms 41, 42 are such that contact points 54, 55 thereofare caused to bear firmly against the terminating ends of correlatedinner conductors or against chamber walls 44 upon completion of armtravel. This arrangement produces, for both conditions, positiveconductive connections. In addition to the advantages of positiveelectrical contacts, the instant embodiment also allows the combinedmechanical and electrical advantages provided by avoiding end suspendeddeectable arms. For example, the low mass, freely moving arms 41, 42allow the use of a relatively small servo means 58 to eiect positiveelectrical contact. In addition, switch 40 is capable of handlinggreater power than an equivalent prior art structure because of thedouble make and break gaps at both ends of arms 41, 42 which increasesthe arcing and breakdown voltage the switch can withstand. Additionally,each arm may be operated by independent actuating means 48 therebyimparting better control to relay switch operation and providing greaterswitching versatility in contrast to prior art apparatus. Either one ofthe input conductors 47, 48 may be connected to or disconnected fromconductor 52 as determined by the signals applied to respectiveactuating means regardless of the position of the other input conductor.Moreover, this type of structure is adaptable to the use of low pricedsimple hinged clapper types of relay actuators.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and manyapparently widely different embodi ments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Electr-ical switch apparatus for selectively and individuallyconnecting a first high frequency coaxial transmission line to aplurality of such transmission lines comprising, a switch body havingfixed and opposed inner `conductive walls defining a substantiallyenclosed and longitudinal interior chamber, first coaxial connectormeans supported by said body and having an inner conductor extendinginto said chamber along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinalchamber axis, a pair of coaxial connectors supported in spacedrelationship by said body and each having a respective inner conductorextending into said chamber on opposite sides of said iirst innerconductor, said irst connector being adapted for connection to the firstof said transmission lines and said pair of connectors being adapted forconnection to individual ones of said plurality of transmission lines, aplurality of movable conductive means each supported .in said chamberfor rotation between said iirst inner conductor and a correlated one ofsaid other inner conductors, and means for rotating said conductivemeans individually from a first to a second of two positions, the4 axisof rotation of said conductive means being perpendicular to saidlongitudinal chamber axis, said `conductive means each having a pair ofspaced contact portions to conductively connect respectively said firstinner conductor and said correlated one of said other inner conductorswhen such means is rotated to the first of its two posi-tions, each ofsaid conductive means occupying a positionsubstantially parallel to saidlongitudinal chamber axis when rotated to its first position andoperatively cooperating with the surrounding chamber walls to form asection of coaxial line for connecting the first transmission line to acorrelated one of said plurality of said transmission lines, and each ofsaid conductive means occupying a position relatively aslant withrespect to said longitudinal chamber axis when rotated to the second ofits positions and the contact portions thereot` conductively connectingrespectively with opposed cond-uctive walls of said chamber forelectrically shielding its correlated one of said other inner conductorsfrom said first inner conductor.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim l wherein, said chamber walls includingopposed upper and lower walls and said inner conductors having oppositeupper and lower terminal faces confronting said upper and lower chamberwalls respectively, said conductive means being a pair of longitudinalresilient arms having substantially oppositely tu-rned ends deiining thespaced contact portions thereof wherein the contact portions of one armis adapted to conductively connect with the upper lface of said firstinner conductor and the lower face of its correlated one of said otherinner conductors upon movement of such arm to its first position and thecontact portions of the other arm is adapted to conductively connectwith the lower face of said first inner conductor and the upper face ofits correlated one of said other inner conductors upon movement of sucharm to its rst position, i

3. Electrical switch apparatus for selectively and individuallyconnecting a first high frequency transmission line to a plurality ofsuch transmission lines comprising, a switch body having opposed innnerconductive walls including end wallsand defining a substantiallyenclosed longitudinal interior chamber, first coaxial connector meanssupported by said body and having an inner conductor extending into saidchamber along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal chamber axis, apair of coaxial connectors supported in spaced relationship by said bodyand each having a respective inner conductor extending into said chamberon opposite sides of said first inner conductor, said respective innerconductors being supported adjacent correlated ones of said chamber endwalls, said rst connector being adapted for connection to the first ofsaid transmission lines and said pair of connectors being adapted forconnection to individual ones of said plurality of said transmissionlines, a pair of movable longitudinal conductive arms each supported insaid'chamber between said rst inner conductor and a correlated one ofsaid other inner conductors, and means for alternately rotating saidarms in opposite directions from a first to la second of two positions,the axis of rotation of said arms being perpendicular to saidlongitudinal chamber axis, each arm having a pair of contact portionsspaced to bridge said first inner conductor and its correlated one ofsaid other inner conductors upon rotation of such arrn to the first ofits positions, movement of each arm to a first of its positions resultsin such arm occupying a position substantially parallel to saidlongitudinal chamber axis, whereby such arm operatively cooperates withsaid chamber walls to define a section of coaxial line as the spacedcontact portions thereof conductively connect respectively with saidfirst inner conductor and its correlated one of said other innerconductors, movement of each larm to the second of its positions resultsin said arm occupying a position relatively aslant with respect to saidlongitudinal chamber axis as the contact portions thereof conductivelycontact 'respective opposed chamber walls for electrically isolating itscorrelated inner conductor from the other inner conductors.

4. Switch apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein, said chamber wallshaving spaced openings, said means for alternately rotating said armscomprising, a pair of dielectric members passing through individual onesof said openings, said members having portions extending into saidchamber for rotatably supporting respective ones of said arms.

5. Switch apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein opposed walls of saidchamber define a substantially uniform cross-sectional area in a planeperpendicular to the longitudinal chamber axis, each of said arms havinga substantially uniform cross-sectional area in a plane perpendicular toits longitudinal axis, whereby each arm of said pair operativelycooperates with the surrounding chamber walls to define a coaxialsection of relatively uniform impedance when such arm is in its firstposition.

6. Electrical switch apparatus for selectively and individuallyconnecting a first high -frequency transmission line to a plurality ofsuch tnansmission lines comprising, a switch body having fixed opposedconductive walls including upper, lower and end walls defining asubstantially enclose-d longitudinal interio-r chamber, first coaxialconnector means supported by said body and having an inner conductorextending into said chamber along an axis perpendicular to thelongitudinal chamber axis, a pair of coaxial connectors supported inspaced relationship by said body land each having a respective innerconductor extending into said chamber on opposite sides of said firstinner conductor and adjacent correlated ones of said end walls, saidfirst connector being adapted for connection to the first or saidtransmission lines and said pair of connectors being adapted forconnection to individual ones of said plurality of transmission lines, apair of movable and substantially longitudinal conductive arms eachsupported in said chamber for alternating movement through planesparallel to said longitudinal chamber axis from a `first to a second oftwo positions, and means for supporting each arm between said firstinner conductor and a correlated one of said other inner conductors formoving such arms individually between their two positions, said innerconductors having opposite upper and lower terminal faces confrontingsaid upper and lower chamber walls respectively, each arm havingcontacting portions longitudinally spaced Vto conductively connectrespectively said first inner conductor and the correlated one'of saidother inner conductors upon movement of such arm to the first of itspositions, said opposed upper and lower chamber walls being a fixeddistance apart substantially the full longitudinal length of saidchamber, movement of a first arm to its first position results in thecontact portions thereof contacting respectively the upper faces of saidfirst conductor and its correlated one of the other inner conductorswhereas movement of the second arm to its first position results in thecontact portions thereof contacting respectively the lower faces of saidfirst conductor and the correlated one of said other inner conductors,and movement of said arms to their respective second positions causingthe contact portions of said first arm to contact said upper chamberwall and the contact portions of said second arm to contact the lowerchamber wall, when an arm is in its second position the longitudinalsection of said chamber coextending therewith is characterized as a waveguide below cut olf Ifrequency to increase effective electricalisolation between the inner conductor adjacent the end wall of such waveguide section and the other inner conductors in said chamber.

7. Electrical switch apparatus for connecting a first high frequencyco-axial transmission line to a plurality of such transmission linescomprising, a switch body having fixed and opposed inner conductor wallsdefining a substantially enclosed and longitudinal interior chamber,first coaxial connector means supported by said body and having innerconductor means extending into said chamber along an axis perpendicularto the longitudinal chamber axis, a pair of axial connectors supportedin spaced relationship by said body and each having a respective innerconductor extending into said chamber on opposite sides of said firstinner conductor, said first connector being adapted for connection tothe first of said transmission lines land said pairs of connectors beingadapted for connection to the individual ones of said plurality of saidtransmission lines, conductive means in said chamber for connecting saidfirst inner conductor to a correlated one of said other innerconductors, at least one of said conductive means being rotatable aboutan axis perpendicular to said longitudinal chamber axis and havingcontact portions spaced to conductively connect respectively said firstinner conductor and its correlated one of said other inner conductorswhen such means is rotated to a first of two positions, said rotatableconductive means occupying a position substantially parallel to saidlongitudinal chamber axis when 'rotated to its rst position andoperatively co-operating with the coextending chamber walls to form asection of co-axial line for connecting said first inner conductor toits correlated one of said other conductors, said rotatable conductormeans occupying a position relatively aslant with respect to saidlongitudinal chamber axis when rotated to the second of its positionsand the contact portions thereof conductively connecting respectivelythe opposed chamber walls for electrically shielding its correlated oneof said other inner conductors from said first inner conductor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

